PAUL O’CONNELL is confident he can play through any lingering effects of his chest infection against Wales in the RBS 6 Nations tomorrow.

The Ireland captain admitted he was embarrassed with his last-minute withdrawal from last weekend’s 28-6 Scotland victory.

The 34-year-old Munster lock made a full return to training on Thursday after sitting out Tuesday’s session entirely.

Boss Joe Schmidt had no qualms pitching O’Connell back into his Ireland line-up to face Warren Gatland’s Wales, with Gordon D’Arcy replacing Luke Marshall the only other change.

O’Connell completed a course of antibiotics yesterday and expects to be at full speed for the Dublin showdown, despite suffering flak from former Ireland teammates on last week’s absence.

‘‘I’ve just got a little bit of a cough left, that’s all,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a bit embarrassing really.

I’ve copped plenty of slagging from the old-school players I’ve played with for years.

‘‘I’ve just finished a course of antibiotics; I’ve played matches on them before, so I don’t struggle with it at all.

‘‘You almost wish you’d had something worse than a chest infection.

‘‘I’m experienced enough to know how to handle things like this, I’ve dealt with similar things before.

‘‘I broke ribs against England, and had to withdraw late the next week from a game against Italy.

‘‘It was very frustrating and very disappointing then, and the same last weekend.”